English for Restaurant and Hospitality Staff: Speak with Guests, Serve with Confidence

 



Do you work in a restaurant, hotel, or tourism business? Do you speak English as a second language?

Strong English skills help you do more than just take orders or check in guests—they help you:

  • Communicate clearly with international customers

  • Offer great service

  • Work smoothly with your team

  • Earn better tips and job opportunities

In this blog post, I’ll share essential English phrases, communication tips, and learning strategies to help hospitality workers feel confident and professional on the job.

 Where You Might Use English

If you work in:

  • Restaurants or cafés

  • Hotels or resorts

  • Tour agencies

  • Cruise ships or airlines

  • Event planning or catering services

…you’ll need to understand and speak English daily—with guests from all over the world.

💬 Common Phrases for Hospitality and Food Service

 In a Restaurant or Café:

Greeting Customers:

  • “Good evening. How many in your party?”

  • “Would you like a table inside or outside?”

  • “Here are your menus. Can I get you something to drink?”

Taking Orders:

  • “Are you ready to order?”

  • “Would you like that with soup or salad?”

  • “We’re out of that item. May I suggest something else?”

Serving and Handling Issues:

  • “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

  • “Sorry for the wait. Thank you for your patience.”

  • “Let me fix that for you.”

Saying Goodbye:

  • “Thank you for coming. Have a great day!”

  • “We hope to see you again soon.”

 In a Hotel or Resort:

Checking In Guests:

  • “Welcome to [Hotel Name]. Do you have a reservation?”

  • “May I see your ID and credit card, please?”

  • “Your room is on the third floor. Here is your key.”

Answering Questions:

  • “Breakfast is served from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m.”

  • “Yes, we have free Wi-Fi in every room.”

  • “The pool is open until 9:00 p.m.”

Solving Problems:

  • “I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I’ll have someone look into it right away.”

  • “Let me speak with my manager about that.”

 Vocabulary to Learn

Focus on words related to:

  • Food & drinks (entrees, appetizers, dairy, gluten-free, sparkling water)

  • Room features (towels, linens, A/C, minibar, balcony)

  • Services (check-in, room service, refund, booking, concierge)

  • Politeness (please, thank you, excuse me, you're welcome)

 Tips to Speak More Naturally

  1. Use polite forms:
    Always say please, thank you, and excuse me.

  2. Repeat key info back to the guest:

    “So that’s one large coffee and a croissant, correct?”

  3. Smile and speak slowly:
    Clear and calm English sounds more confident and professional—even if your grammar isn’t perfect.

  4. Practice roleplaying:
    Use sample conversations to practice real situations like handling complaints or giving directions.

 How I Can Help You Succeed

In my personalized online English lessons, I help hospitality staff:

  • Practice real-life guest conversations

  • Build useful vocabulary

  • Improve pronunciation and clarity

  • Roleplay difficult situations (complaints, refunds, confused guests)

  • Learn English for specific roles like server, front desk agent, or barista

 Ready to Level Up Your Hospitality English?

Book your private lesson now

Let’s work together so you can serve with confidence and speak with pride.



Location: Ontario, Canada

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